Archive for May, 2009

I was intrigued when I saw a post from willw describing his new application, Get Home. If you are new to a strange city or have trouble getting home when you’ve been drinking, you have everything you need right there, with your home address pre-programmed in.

I think it is a great idea, and the interface is easily used and customized. unfortunately, there are couple of problems with execution.

When you click on either walking directions or bus route, it simply throws you into Google Maps. Not a problem in itself, but it doesn’t bring you straight to walking directions or public transportation directions, instead, you are put into the last mode you were using (driving, walking, or public transport). Basically, walking directions and bus schedule are the same button.

Also, for whatever reason it always puts the hybrid display mode up, and I personally prefer just the basic map.

The get taxi brings up Google Maps with a list of car service providers in your vicinity, and the call or text contact option works as described.

My criticism might seem nit picky, but this is the kind of application that could seriously help a drunk person, and if said drunk person is instructed to walk through the Holland Tunnel, he could have problems.

My other main criticism is the price. This would be the perfect 99 cent app (after it’s patched), and I think Will might be missing out on a ton of business by putting it at $1.99. This may seem like a small difference, but 99 cents is the “magic” price point. Why do you think apple fought so hard to keep record companies from jacking up the prices in their music store?

All that being said, it was a great idea, I’d just like to see it fixed.